Comico (1982-1997)

Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections: Comic books: Misc. Publishers: Comico (1982-1997)


By CR on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 5:58 am:

New board, fresh paint...
Looks like I'll have to dig out my comic boxes and go through my Comico titles.
Oh, and thanks, KAM!


By KAM on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 12:50 am:

Comic Book Artist #15 has an interview with Matt Wagner & he tells some of how this company was formed (art students wanting to do comics) & it's ending (declaring bankruptcy after some shady financial dealings & trying to make it on newstands instead of staying in just comic shops).


By Benn on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 9:07 pm:

Y'know, I feel bad that I haven't posted on this board yet. But there is a reason. Beyond reading an issue or two of E-Man, Mage and Johnny Quest (maybe), I never read anything Comico put out. I had to look at Mile High Comics' online catalog list to find out what series this company published. I was just never too drawn to their output. Sorry, I can't contribute in any meaningful way to the discussion. At least not now.


By KAM on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 5:33 pm:

When did Comico publish E-Man?

I know Charlton & First published it, but didn't know any other company did.


By Benn on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 10:48 pm:

Comico published E-Man in 1989 and 1990. From what I can tell, they only published a total of four issues of the title.


By KAM on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 11:17 pm:

That's what The Slings & Arrows guide says. And after Comico, at least, one issue was published by a company called Alpha.

Comico handled a number of titles that went from publisher to publisher.
Empire Lanes
Fish Police
The Jam
Justice Machine
Maze Agency
The Rocketeer
Sam & Max


As well as licensed properties, (which, for now, should be discussed over in the Licensed Properties section) such as:
Gumby's Fun Specials
Johnny Quest
- Mostly original stories
Johnny Quest Classics - Comic versions of TV episodes
Jezabel Jade - JQ spinoff
Macross
Space Ghost


Other titles:
The Amazon
Az
Bloodscent
Comico Christmas Special
Comico Primer
Elementals
Evangeline
Fathom
- Elementals spinoff
Ginger Fox
Grendal
- Least hated of the original Comico books. ;-)
Monolith - Elementals spinoff
Next Man
Oblivion
Ribit
Rio
Silverback
- Grendal spinoff
Skrog
Slaughterman
Strike Force America
- Elementals spinoff
Trollords
The Trouble With Girls
Vortex
- Elementals spinoff?

Fans of Sam Kieth's The Maxx may be interested to know he first appeared in Comico Primer #5.


By CR on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 9:39 pm:

Although I wasn't very much interested in "superhero" type comics back in the 1980's, a friend of mine got me interested in Justice Machine and Elementals, which I thought were pretty cool for their time. I don't know how well either title would hold up overall, since they both were laced with references to then-current events. (I know JM actually started with another publisher, and I also recall both Comico titles crossing over for a few issues. But I still enjoyed the Comico offerings. Have to see if that still holds true...)
I also liked Comico's take on Johnny Quest, which fleshed out and expanded upon the characters while still generally keeping them the way we remember them from the tv series. Comico also did a good job (to my recollection) of subtly updating the series to fit in the then-contemporary world, without morphing the series into some unrecognizable offshoot. (Oh, there were also three tv episodes pretty faithfully adapted as well.)
Evangeline was a Comico comic? I thought it was someone else.
BTW, Comico adapted Robotech, which not only included The Macross Saga, but also The Masters & The New Generation. All three were originally separate Japanese anime series that were combined in America to form a three-generation saga. Per KAM's note above, I'll carry on any further discussion about this over in the Licensed Properties section! If I feel up to it. :)


By KAM on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 2:09 am:

4 episodes of Johnny Quest were adapted. One appeared in the regular JQ title the other 3 were published as Johnny Quest Classics.

I have no idea if the Comico Evangeline is any relation to the Image Comics Evangeline. I went through my copy of the Slings & Arrows Comic guide and wrote down every title that they listed as coming from Comico.

I believe Image also has a book called Fathom, but I don't think she is related to Comico's Fathom.


By CR on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 11:57 am:

I've seen a Michael Turner's Fathom (featuring Aspen Matthews) "action" figure (which really doesn't look like it's articulated too much), which is definitely not the Comico Fathom. The figure is from Top Cow.
Four episodes of JQ were adapted? I'll have to start re-reading! BTW, I recall there were two JQ specials by Comico, as well. They're with my other JQ comics, so I won't remember what they were about 'til I dig them out.


By KAM on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 1:10 am:

In 1984 Comico published 2 issues of Evangeline, Lodestone published 1 issue in 1986, & First published 12 issues from 1987-1989.


By CR on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 7:51 am:

I have the first six or so of the First version, but the first First is actually a special reprint of the first two issues combined into one (with a bonus transition short story between the two).
Looks like nobody could get that title to keep going...


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